DCS Family First Interventions
Why we track this indicator
Children served through an Informal Adjustment or In-Home Child in Need of Services (CHINS) case, or fostered by a family member or relative, have been shown to experience better socio-emotional and developmental outcomes compared to non-relative foster care placements. Maintaining a strong connection to family has been associated with fewer changes in placements, a greater sense of stability for the child, and fewer behavioral problems.
DCS Family First Interventions Breakdown
Status:
Green
Definition: Quarterly change in the percentage of DCS cases that maintain children in a setting with relatives or people with a strong connection to the child. The goal is to maintain family connections when it is possible to do so safely. This information is obtained through publicly available data.
Source: Department of Child Services
Last Updated: October 2025
Mitigating Factors: This indicator replaces Non-Relative Foster Placements on the risk side, and Kinship Foster Placements on the protective side.
Methodology
Methodology: Child in Need of Services(CHINS) cases and Informal Adjustments cases are totaled, and the percentage of those cases that are Informal Adjustments, In-Home Child in Need of Services cases, or Kinship placements is compared to the percentage of Non-Relative foster placements. Collaborative Care cases and placements counted as “other” are not included in these calculations.
Goal: The goal is to observe an increase in the percentage of DCS cases in which the children can be safely kept in the home, or when removal is necessary, placed with family members or people with whom they have an established close connection.
Traffic Light:
Green: at least 1 percent more compared to previous quarter
Gray: within +/- 1 percent compared to previous quarter
Red: greater than 1 percent fewer compared to previous quarter
Supporting Research
The impact of foster care on development
Foster care is a protective intervention designed to provide out of home placement to children living in at-risk home environments.
Kinship and Nonrelative Foster Care: The Effect of Placement Type on Child Well-Being
This study uses a national sample of 1,215 children, ages 6–17, who spent some time in formal kinship or non-relative foster care to identify the effect of placement type on academic achievement, behavior, and health.
Kinship Care is Better for Children and Families
The idea of family members assisting and supporting each other is not new.
Impact of Kinship Care on Behavioral Well-being for Children in Out-of-Home Care
To examine the influence of kinship care on behavioral problems after 18 and 36 months in out-of-home care.
Related Indicators
Click to see more data trends related to Kinships Foster Care Placements
Department of Child Services
The Indiana Department of Child Services leads the state’s response to allegations of child abuse and neglect and facilitates child support payments.
Indicators in Action
The ‘Data Action Mini Grant’ program will provide low barrier grants to collaborating partners which will help increase cross-system collaboration and facilitate the community response to needs and/or gaps identified through the Elkhart County Child Dashboard. Applicants may request up to $2,000. Two or more applicants can collaborate for collaborative action based upon one or more data indicators and increase the grant request. By leveraging the ‘Data Action Mini Grant’ program partners can have a platform that helps to inform community goals and creates a stronger sustainability platform for their programs.
For a copy of the 1-page proposal template click here or email David Wiegner.